Circular-knitting machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. R. DILLMORE. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 535,215. Patented Jan; 29; 1895.

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(No ModeL) W. R. DILLMORE.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. No. 533,215. Patented Jan. 29, 1895.

UNITED STATE v PATENT Prion.

XVILLIAM R. DILLMORE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,215, dated January 29, 1895. Application filed November 15, 1893. Serial No- 490386. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may-concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. DILLMORE, of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefullmprovementin Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to knitting machines and has reference more particularly to what are known as circular knitting machines employing a single set of reciprocating needles which form a seamless web. In the formation of stockings on machines of this character, it is the practice in the heeling and toeing operations to first throw a portion of the needles, usually one-half, out of action, and perform the narrowing and Widening operations onthe needles remaining in action,

. the operations being accomplished by a reciprocating movementof the cam ring which by means of suitable mechanism, will act first to raise a portion of the active needles, one at a time, at the end of each course out of action, and then return them in the same manner to their operative positions.

In an application of even-date herewith I have illustrated, described and claimed a mechanism for automatically raising a portion of the needles out of action, preparatory to the narrowing and widening operations, and the present invention consists of an improved arrangement of cams forautomatically raising and lowering, one at a time, a

portion of the remaining needles to effect the narrowing and Widening operations.

The invention also consists in the details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the interior of the cam ring of a knitting machine having my invention embodied therein, the lifting cams being shown in full lines in operative positions, and in dotted lines in inoperative positions and the depressing cams being shown in inoperative positions. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the lifting cams in inoperative positions and the depressing cams in operative positions. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the outer side of the cam ring showing the manner in which the cams are sustained, they being in the position occupied as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1. Fig. atis a similar view, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the cam ring, the cams and adjacent parts of the machine. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional elevation through the needle cylinder, cam ring and the frame of the machine on the line -90 of Fig. 3, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line yy, Fig. 3, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the casting or frame sustaining a relatively fixed needle cylinder 2 and a revolving cam ring 3 surrounding the needle cylinder in the usual manner, and arranged to be driven by any appropriate mechanism. The cam ring is provided on its interior with a ledge 4 upon which the heels of the needles rest when not being reciprocated to form the stitches. At one side of the ring this ledge is interrupted and in the space between the ends of the ledge are located the fixed side cams 5 and 6 and the elevated central cam 7. The cam 5 is formed with the active edges 8, 9 and 10, and the earn 6 similarly formed with the active edges 11, 12 and 13, the edges 9 and 12 of the two cams extending adjacent to active edges 14 and 15 of the central elevated cam. Adjacent to the lower edges of the side cams, the cam ring is formed with two inclined ledges 16 and 17, constituting in effect a continuation of the ledge 4 at the points where it is interrupted. The form and relative arrangement of the various cams are such that on the movement of the cam ring the heels of the needles will be engaged by the active edges of the cam, and be caused to reciprocate in the proper manner to perform the knitting operation.

The foregoing parts may be of the usual and ordinary construction, and except in so far as hereinafter indicated, they form in themselves no part of the present invention.

The present invention as hereinbefore pointed out consists in the provision of improved lifting. and depressing cams for automatically raising the active needles, one at a time, out of action, and again depressing them in a like manner, the cams being so sustained that they will be rendered operative or inoperative as desired.

18 and 19 represent the lifting cams, and 20 and 21 the depressing cams. They are carried by pivoted arms as will be more fully described hereinafter, and are sustained from the outer side of the cam ring which is cut away at its upper edge adjacent to the working cams to admit of the operation of the two sets of cams from the outside.

The lifting cams 18 and 19 are mounted on the ends of horizontal pins 22., which extend outward and are fixed to the upper ends of vertical arms 23, pivoted at their lower ends to plates 24 fixed to the outer side of the cam ring on the opposite sides of the yarn guide standard. The length of the pivoted arms and the location of the pivots are such that thecams may be swung from the inoperative positions indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to the operative .positions against the edges 9 and 12 of the fixed cams, as shown in full lines in said figure. The two arms are each acted on by a spring 25, which is fixed at its center to the yarn guide standard, and has its two ends attached to the arms, its tendency being to move the arms on their pivots outward and swing the cams to operative positions. These pivoted arms are thrown into and out ofaction by operating levers 26, which are pivoted at their lower ends to the plates 24 at the outer sides of the pivots of the arms. These levers extend adjacent to the arms, and are each provided in its inner edge with a notch, which notches are adapted to receive pins 27, projecting outward from the pivoted arms. The positionsof the notches of the respective arms are such that when the pins-are seated therein, the arms will be sustained in an upright position against the .tensioniof the spring, the cams in this position of the .arms being inoperative. To render the cams operative it will be but necessary to move the levers outward in opposite directions, and-the supports afforded the pins on the arms by the notches, being withdrawn, the spring will move the arms outward and the cams to an operative position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. To again render thecarns inoperative from this position, the levers are moved 'toward each other, and their edges below the notches, engaging the pins, will move the arms inward until the notches arrive beneath the pins, when the latter will drop therein.

In order that there will be no danger ofthe cams being accidentally thrown into action, I provide a horizontal spring plate 28, which is fixed to the cam ring below the ends of the levers 26, and has its two free ends arranged to enter notches in the levers when the latterare in upright positions with the cams out of action.

The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: Assuming that a web has been formed by thecontinuous operation of all the needles, that a portion of the needles has been raised out of action, that the cams 18 and 19 are in their inoperative positions, and it is desired to raise a portion of the remaining needles, one at a time out of action at the end of each course, the machine is stopped and the operating levers 2O moved outward al lowing the spring to move the arms in opposite directions and carry the cams downward to their operative positions against the active edges 9, 12 of the cams5 and 6. The cam ring is now given a reciprocating movement, and the heels of the needles remaining in action as the ring is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, will be engaged by the edge 11 of cam 6, and be raised until the first needle is guided on to the hollow or concave surface of the lifting cam 19. This cam as the movement of the ring is continued, will lift the needle bodily, the arm carrying the cam turning on its pivot, and continuing to raise the needle until it is out of action,and to a point where the central cam 7 will engage the heel of the same and carry it to its upper edge. At the moment when the heel of this needle has been carried by the cam 19 to the highest position of the said cam, the latter under the influence of its spring will drop back and ride upon the heels of the following needles, which will he engaged by the edge 12 of the cam 6, and the other cams, and be caused to reciprocate in the usual manner. The movement of the cam ring in this direction is continued until all the active needles have "been passed and have knitted a course on the fabric, when the cam 19 will drop back to its former operative position against the cam 6. The movement of the cam ring is now reversed, and the cam 18 encountering the heel of the first .needle at the opposite end of the series of needles in action, will raise the needle out of action in a manner similar to that just described. The movementof the ring is again reversed, and the operations continued until the requisite number of needles have been thrown out of action. The operating levers 26 are then moved inward, and the cams rendered inoperative. After the needles have been thus raised one ata time out of action, they are to be in a like manner depressed and rendered active. This is accomplished by the depressing cams 20 and 21 before alluded to. These cams areeach formed on its under side'with a notch for the heel of the needle, and they are fixed to the lower ends of arms 29, which are pivoted on horizontal axes 30, at the upper ends of posts or standards 81, extending upward from the base of the cam ring at its outer side. These arms swing in vertical planes and are acted on by springs 32, fixed to the upper sides of the standards and bearing at their free ends against the inner edges of the arms the tendency of the springs being to move the arms upward and out with the cams in operative positions, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. These arms are each moved to swing the cams from an operative to an inoperative position, by means of levers 33, fixed to the outer ends of horizontal pins 34, journaledin the standards 31.

At the inner sides of the standards, the pins are fixed to cam plates 35, having fingers 36, projecting from one edge, which fingers extend above and engage pins 37 fixed to the arms 29. In moving the arms from an operative to an inoperative position, the levers are moved outward, and the fingers engaging the pins will move the arms downward to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, in which position the cams will be inoperative. To move the cams again to operative position, the levers are moved inward toward each other, and the fingers on the cam plates being lifted above the pins, the springs will throw the arms upward as shown in Fig. 2, the cams being in operative positions. Each of the arms is provided on its outer edge adjacent to the pin with a shoulder 38, which shoulders are adapted to abut against the lower ends of vertically adjustable stops 39, in the form of screws threaded into laterally projecting lugs 40, extending outward from the upper ends of the standards. By means of these screws I am enabled to vary the point at which the depression cams will engage the heels of the needles as the conditions encountered in practice may require.

In order that the arms carrying the depressing cams may be locked with the cams in inoperative position, so that they will not be accidentally moved to an operative position, I 'provide the edges of the cam plates 35 with notches and fix to the standards spring fingers 41, having their free ends in position to enter the notches when the levers are in upright position.

The operation of the depressing cams is as follows: Assuming that the lifting cams have been operated to raise a portion of the needles, one at a time, out of action, and it is desired to depress these needles into action again, the depressing cams are moved to an operative position as shown, and the cam ring being turned in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in Fig. 1, the cam 20 will encounter the first elevated needle, and the motion of the ring continuing, the cam will be moved downward on its axis, carrying the needle with it, until the needle has reached the lowest point to which the cam can swing, when the latter will be thrown by its spring upward under the heels of the inactive needles, the needle depressed by the cam being engaged by the fixed cam 5, and recipprocated by the advancing cams to knit with the other active needles. The motion of the cam ring is continued in this direction until the working cams have passed all the active needles, when the motion of the ring is reversed, and the cam 21 then encounters the first elevated needle at the opposite end of the series and depresses the same in the manner just described. The ring is then reversed, and the operations continued until the requisite number of needles have been depressed.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim is i i l 1. In a knitting machine the combination with a cam ring provided with cams for reciprocating the needles to form the stitches, of the arms pivoted at their lower ends on horizontal axes to the cam ring, the lifting cams at the upper ends of said arms in position to operate in connection with the first named cams, and operating levers pivoted to the cam ring and arranged to move the camsupporting'armsinto inoperative position and adapted to engage the same and hold the cams out of action.

2. In a knitting machine the combination withthe cam ring, of the arms pivoted at their lower ends thereto, the lifting cams projecting from the upper ends of the arms, the pins fixed to the arms, the operating levers pivoted to the cam ring and provided with recesses to receive the pins the said levers being arranged to press against the pins and turn the arms on their pivots until the pins engage the said recess.

3. In a knitting machine the combination with the cam ring, of the arms pivoted at their lower ends thereto on horizontal axes, lifting cams fixed to the upper ends of said arms means tending constantly to separate the arms, pins fixed to the arms, and levers pivoted at their lower ends to the cam ring, and providedwith notches to receive the pins and with hearing edges to engage the same.

4. In a knitting machine the combination with the cam ring, of the swinging lifting cams sustained thereby, the levers for throwing the cams out of action, and locking devices for holding the levers with the cams inactive.

5. In a knitting machine the combination with the cam ring, of the arms pivoted at their lower ends to the same, lifting cams on the upper ends of the arms, the levers pivoted to the cam ring and arranged to engage and move the arms, said levers provided in their pivoted ends with notches, and the locking spring fixed to the cam ring and having its free ends arranged to enter the notches in the levers.

6. In a knitting machine the combination with the cam ring, of the two standards 31, the arms pivoted at their upper ends to the upper ends of said standards, the depressing cams on the lower ends of said arms, the springs acting on the arms and tending to hold the same in raised positions and levers sustained by the standards and arranged to engage the arms and depress them, and means for locking the parts in inoperative position.

7. In a knitting machine the combination with the cam ring, of the standards fixed thereto, the arms pivoted at their upper ends to the upper ends of said standards, the depressing cams on the lower ends of the arms, the springs bearing against the arms and tending to hold them in raised positions, the

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pins on the arms, the operating levers sustained by the standards, and provided with fingers to engage the pins and means for locking the levers to hold the depressing cams out of action.

8. In a knitting machine the combination with the cam ring, of the standards, the arms pivoted at their upper ends to the upper ends of the standards, the depressing cams on the lower ends of the arms, the springs tending to maintain the cams in raised positions, the pins on the arms, the levers, the cam plates fixed thereto and provided with fingers to engage the pins, and the spring fingers engaging the edges of the cam plates to hold the parts in inoperative position.

9. In a knitting machine the combination with the cam ring, of the downwardly swinging depressing cams, means for holding said cams yieldingly in raised positions, levers for depressing the cams and means for positively locking the cams in depressed positions against an opposing force.

10. In a knitting machine the combination with the cam ring,of the downwardly swinging arms sustained thereby, the depressing cams on the ends of said arms, means for holding the arms yieldingly in raised positions with the cams operative, levers for depressing the arms, and locking devices for engaging the levers to hold the cams in depressed positions.

11. In a knitting machine the combination with the cam ring, of the arms pivoted at their upper ends, depressing cams on the lower ends of the arms, means for holding the arms yieldingly in raised positions and adjustable stops in position to be engaged by the arms when in raised positions.

12. In a knitting machine the combination with the cam ring, of the standards sustained thereby, the arms pivoted at their upper ends to the upper ends of the standards, the depressing cams on the lower ends of the arms, the vertically adjustable stops sustained by the standards and adapted to limit the upward movement of the arms, and the springs tending to hold the arms in raised positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 19th day of September, 1893, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

WILLIAM R. DILLMORE.

Witnesses:

EDWARD LANDENBERGER, WM. J. OURRAN. 

